Improved trigger-protector for fire-arms



I B. H. WESTERHOOD.

Gun Lock.

Patented July 22, 1856.

MPEl'ERs. PNOTO-LITMOGRAPNER. WASHINGTON, D C.

UNITED STATES PATENT @FFIGE.

BERNARD H. NVESTERHOOD, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVED TRIGGER-PROTECTOR FOR FIRE-ARMS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 15,397, dated July 22, 1856.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BERNARD H. WEsTnR- HOOD, of the city of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and Improved Trigger-Protector for Fire-Arms; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

My invention relates to a means for pre venting the accidental discharge of fire-arms; and it consists in jointing to the trigger-plate a radial guide capable of being readily lockedand unlocked, and so arranged that when locked the said guard shall entirely inclose the trigger, thereby preventing the latter from being accidentally moved, and when unlocked shall expose the trigger so that it may be operated in the usual manner.

In order to enable others skilled. in the art to make and use my invention, I will now proceed to describe its construction and op eration.

On reference to the drawings which form apart of this specification, Figure l is a sectional elevation of a trigger-plate for firearms having my improved trigger-protector attached; Fig. 2, a ground plan of Fig 1; Fig. 3, a transverse section on the line 1 2, Fig. 1.

The same letters of reference allude to similar parts throughout the several views.

A is the trigger-plate, fastened to the under side of the stock of any fire-arm in the usual manner; B, thetrigger, jointed to lugs on the plate A and connected with the look by any of the usual appliances.

To the plate A is jointed, at a, one end of the semicircular or other conveniently-shaped protector D, the sides of which are entirely closed, as seen in the transverse section, Fig. 3. The opposite end of the protector is furnished with a projection, 12, which fits into an opening in the plate 0. This projection has an inclined top and an orifice, into which passes the inclined end of the latch d, which slides into staples c and e, secured to the plate A, and which is furnished with a spiral spring, surrounding the circular portion of the latch in such a manner as to keep the inclined point of the latter in the recess of the projection I) on the protector D, when not otherwise withdrawn, by means of a button, h, which slides underneath the plate A, and which is attached, by means of a pin passing through a slot in the said plate, to the latch d.

To the protector D, and near the joint a, is secured a projection, i, which bears on the top of the spring j, the latter being secured 1 to the top of the trigger-plate A. As it appears in the drawings the protector is closed, being maintained in that position by the spring-latch d, thus effectually shielding the trigger, and thereby preventing accidental discharges, and rendering the fire-arm more safe in the hands of sportsmen and others who have frequently to pass through woody districts and climb precipitous places, in which situations the unprotected triggers of ordinary fire-arms are apt to come in contact with obstructions.

Vhen it is desirable to uncover the trigger, theoperator, by means of the button It, withdraws-the spring-latch cl from the orifice in the projection b of the guard or protector D, and the spring j acts on the projection in such a manner as to cause the said protector to assume the position shown in red lines, Fig. 1, when the trigger is exposed and within the reach or the finger of the operator. WVhen it is again desirable to close the protector, it is simply raised toward its former position, when the inclined top of the projection 12, catching the inclined end of the latch cl, presses the latter back until its point coincides with the orifice in the projection 12, into which it is instantly forced by the spiral spring f, thus effectually locking the protector until the latch is again withdrawn by means of the button h.

WVhat I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is v The employment, in connection with firearms, of a protector, D, which can be locked so as to entirely inclose the trigger, and opened so as to expose the same, the said guard be ing arranged and constructed substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein set forth.

BERNARD H- WESTERHOOD. Witnesses:

HENRY HowsoN, WILLIAM E. WALTON. 

